Adjustable headband



F. M. BOWERS ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND Filedoct. 1, 1957 june 25, 1940..

/5 PTJ- IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

` Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to headbands such'as are commonly employed in conjunction with welding helmets, shields, and the like, for the purpose of retaining the helmet or protective element in position on the head of the wearer.

It is now common practice in this art to avail With the foregoing, conditions inmind, thisI invention has in view, as its foremost objective, the provision of an adjustable headband of the character above noted, which includes novel and improved means for adjusting the headband to the size of a particular wearer.

More in detail, this invention has in view an arrangement in which the headband proper comprises a flat strip'adapted to fit around the head of a wearer. This strip has a pair of free ends adjacent to one another and by adjusting the relative positions of the free ends, the size of the band may be varied as occasion demands.

In accordance with this invention, the free ends of thestrip are cutaway toprovide complementa] extensions which overlap one another, and which are received in a casing defined by a flattened out tubular casing element.

The overlapping edges are formed with gear teeth anda gear element is positioned between the gear teeth on the respective ends and is adapted to be rotated to cause relative movement of the said overlapping portions.

An important feature of the present invention is associated with the provision of means `for operatingthe above noted gear element. The bperating member is disposed on the outer side of the casing in a convenient position, and is drivably connected with the gear element to perform the necessary function.

With theabove noted arrangement, the head-i Various"other more detailed objects and advantages will in part become apparent and in 'part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

(ci. 2-s) The invention, therefore, comprises an adjustable headband which consists of a strip of material defining the headband and which strip has cut away overlapping extremities. The edges of these overlapping portions are formed with gear teeth, and the gear element is operatively associated with the gear teeth. The overlapping portions are enclosed within a casing, and a gear element is operatively mounted on the casing and drivably connected with the gear element for causing rotation thereof.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may-be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, `wherein Figure l is a top plan view of an adjustable headband made in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed View taken as a vertical section throughthe casing which the overlapping portions,

Figure '3 is a vertical section taken at right'- angles to the `showing of Figure 2; this view be-v ing taken about on the plane representedby the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

tent member, and l. F Figure 5 is an elevational showing takenat right-angles to the showing of Figure 4.

'Referring' now to the drawing, wherein like 30 end designated I 2, and which loop structure is 40 formed with an opening I3 which constitutes means for pivotally mounting awelding shield or similar protective device to the headband.

The strip Ill has a pair of free ends referred toA generally as I4 and I5. Each of the free ends I4 and I5 is cut away to provide complemental overlapping end portions I6 and I'I. The edges of the overlapping portions l'and I'I which are closely adjacentone another are provided with a series of gear teeth defining racks identied as 50 I8 and I9 respectively.

f It is notable that the rack I8 is spaced inwardly I from theedge of the portion I6, and at the`end thereof the end portion I6 is returned to its original dimension to provide a stop identifiedl 55 houses Figure 4 is a detailed elevational View of a de- 25 casing element is formed with an inner wall 23 u and an outer wall 24, which are connected at top and bottom by the curved portions represented at 25.

A gearelement 26 is interposed between the u racks I6 and I9, and is in effective mesh therewith. This gear element 26 carries a disk member 21 that is interposed between the wall 23, of the casing of the gear element and overlapping portions I6 and I1; the disk 21 being formed as integral with a sleeve 26. A

The gear element 26 is drivably mounted on the sleeve 26 that extends through an opening 29 'formed in an operating 'member designated 30. This operating member '30 is formed with a cup- `shaped recess 3|, and the extremity of the sleeve member 26 is expanded at the bottom of' the recess 3| to secure the various parts in assembled relationship; it being notable that the sleeve 28 is formed with a ilangev 33 that engages the operating member 30 in the depression 3|l about the opening 29.

The operating member 30 is formed with an extension 34 that projects into an opening' 35 formed7in-the wall 24 of the casing. A 'Washer 36 that is comparable to the disk 23 is interposed between the extension 34 and wall'24 on one side, and the gear element 26 and overlapping portions I 6 and I1 on the other side. This washer 36 is formed with upper and lower overhanging flanges 32 that flt over the outer edges of the end portions I6 and I1 respectively;

`maintain the end portions I6 and I1 in properly spaced relation from the curved portions 25 of the casing 22'. l Y

'I'he operating member 30 is cylindrical in formation, and the cylindrical surface 'thereof a good grip for rotating this operating member,

and also for cooperation with a detent that is shown in Figures 4 and 5. This detent comprises a ring-like body portion 38 having tangs 38 struck therefrom "which are embedded inthe wall 24. Extending outwardly vfrom the body portion 38 at diametricallyopposite points are a pair of ears 40 formed with inwardly projecting pro- -tuberances 4I that are yieldably received in the corresponding recesses 31.

Itis motable that "the voperating member 30 is formed with a shoulder 42 that engagesA the ring 38,to hpld the latter in position in engagement with the .outer face of the wall 24.

Thus the operating member 30 may be rotated u by exerting suicient force tocause the protuberances 4I ofv thev detentto ride out of the recesses 31. However, the eiect oi this detent is to main- 'tain the headband in any acusted position,

' ment a fibrous material which is suitably adapted to the forming operations necessary to the manuproduct having the required properties of strength and rigidity. Duringv the manufacturing operations, and before'nal 'setting of the fibrous mate- A rial the tangs -39 are readily embedded in theA wall 24 of the casing. Certain fibrous materials now available are particularly adapted to the manufacture of the above described adjustable headband, because by -moistening certain parts such as the casing22 they will be expanded to facilitate assembly. With the moistened and expanded casing 22 assembled about the end portions I6 and I1 and parts associated therewith it is subjected to the action of a mold which `shapes it into its nal form. This mold may be heated to facilitate drying, which causes shrinkage of thecasing 22 to its iinal size.

It is evident that the operating member 30 and gear element 26are in a non-rotative driving relationship. Thus by turning the operating member 30 the -gear element 26 is rotated to cause relative movement of the overlapping portions I6 and I1 that constitute the free ends of the strip I0. Thus the strip I0 may be adjusted to t the head of any particular wearer.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth itis to be clearly understood that I am not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided inputting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable headband of the character described comprising a strip adapted to, t about Lthe head of a wearer and having relatively movable overlapping Vend portions,v each Vof said end portions being provided with a s eriesV ofv teeth dening a rack, a tubular casing having inner and outer walls receiving said relatively movableA end portions, the inner wall of said casing being curved` to snugly t about the'hea'd of a wearer, .a shaft-disposed Within the casing'and carrying -an abutment element interposed between. the inner wall of said casing and said overlapping en'd portions, the outer wall of said casing being formed with an opening, an operating member, said shaft and said operating member extending i. through-4 said opening, a gear element drivably is provided with a series of recesses 31 to provide I carried by said shaft and in operative engagement with said racks, and means consisting of elements carried by said operating member and outer wall of the casing which'cooperate to yieldably maintaim the operating member Ain an adjusted position. J

2. A headband comprising a band having ends in overlapping relation, a tubular one piece casing encircling said `overlapping ends', said casing being curved to conform to the shape of a wearers Q head and presenting ilat inner and outer curved walls, a shaft having one end thereof terminating in saidcasing between said overlapping ends and the inner face of said inner wall'and inl .16, facture, and at the same time will result in a anchoring said inner end in said casing, and

means associated with said shaft for holding said ends of said band in a desired relation to each other.

4. A headband comprising a head encompassing strip having ends in overlapping relation, a

-curved casing encircling said overlapping ends and having spaced inner and outer walls, a mem- FREDERICK lvrfovsfinas. 

